San Juan, Apr 22 (EFE).- The Bahamian government is chartering two flights to carry 290 undocumented Haitian migrants to Port-au-Prince, Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell announced Wednesday.
"I bring this to the attention of the country to show that this remains an annoying, consistent and expensive problem," he said in a statement to the House of Assembly.
"Those flights will take 145 people each at a cost of $67,265," Mitchell said. "Instead of spending money on ports, roads or airports, we have to spend on trying to deport illegal immigrants to their homes."
Fighting illegal immigration is a national security priority for the Bahamas, according to the minister.
Under the new immigration law that took effect last Nov. 1, the Bahamian government does not accept applications for work permits from persons residing illegally in the country, while legal immigrants must carry their passports at all times.
The legislation has been criticized for targeting Haitians, a charge the Bahamian government denies.
"I bring this to the attention of the country to show that this remains an annoying, consistent and expensive problem," he said in a statement to the House of Assembly.
"Those flights will take 145 people each at a cost of $67,265," Mitchell said. "Instead of spending money on ports, roads or airports, we have to spend on trying to deport illegal immigrants to their homes."
Fighting illegal immigration is a national security priority for the Bahamas, according to the minister.
Under the new immigration law that took effect last Nov. 1, the Bahamian government does not accept applications for work permits from persons residing illegally in the country, while legal immigrants must carry their passports at all times.
The legislation has been criticized for targeting Haitians, a charge the Bahamian government denies.
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